By Koko Robson

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) State2State, Akwa Ibom CSOs Forum has lauded the Akwa Ibom state government for flagging  off  the construction of the Ibong-Usaka Annang Road in Obot Akara local government area.

The Ibong-Usaka Annang road which was one of the proposed projects submitted by Policy Alert through the Community Charter of Demands (CCD) for the 2024 budget to Akwa Ibom State government has received intervention by the state government.

Recall that Governor Umo Eno recently performed the 11.71Km Abiakpo Ikot Otu-Atan Ibong-Usaka Annang and Nto Ndang-Nto Ekpu roads flagged off.

Across session of USAID (State2state) officials with the CSOs during the quarterly coordination meeting in Uyo.

USAID  State2State  made this known  at the CSOs Quarterly Coordination meeting held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital at Uranus Hotel  on Wednesday 28/2/2024.

USAID  Nigeria State Accountability ,Transparency, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity objectives  in the  CSOs coordination meeting was to  improve government’s ability to plan and budget, increase responsiveness to citizens needs and priorities, as well as manage conflict and oversea service delivery in Health, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sectors.

USAID State2state, while commending the state government for capturing some of the projects submitted by Policy Alert through the Community Charter of Demands (CCD) for the 2024 budget, called on them to give priority to people oriented projects that will have impact on common people.

According to the Akwa Ibom CSOs Forum, indices from the 2023 budget performance indicated that , in the Health sector  only 4.3% of the total budget estimate was implemented  by the state government , while the  Education sector got 8.2%, whereas only 0.6% of total estimate for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was implemented.

The forum maintained that, most projects in the focal sectors were not given the needed attention.

Mrs Munachiso Odulana, the Citizens Engagement/Capacity Building Specialist noted that, although the 2023 budget captured projects in the focal sectors, most of the projects were not implemented as approved in the budget, thereby failed to meet the yearning of the citizens.

The Akwa Ibom CSOs Forum  wondered why government would plan and approve a budget but relinquish to release funds without accounting for the funds earmarked for the projects.

They also noted that government makes huge budget to  areas  like, Economic, Deputy governor’s  office, etc  at the detriment of the social sector where people oriented and priorities projects are captured , expressing displeasure why  sectors where government interest  are embedded  are often implemented to nearly 100%.

The quarterly meeting also featured progress review on implementation of action plans and achievements by the CSOs in the last quarter as follows  , review inclusion of citizens’ needs in the 2024 approved budget of the state as submitted through Citizens’ Charter Demands and reviewing of the inclusion of  women and People With Disabilities (PWDs) in governance system among others.

Also , there were Presentations  of CSOs’ Focal groups’ action, update of the CSOs action plans on strategic engagements and advocacy with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the next quarter, as well as presentation  by the Chairman,  Akwa Ibom state Guild Community of Development Advocates (AKGCoDA), Mr Harry Udoh.